"Somehow, Palpatine returned." This iconic line from The Rise of Skywalker has become a meme that encapsulates the mixed feelings fans have about the Emperor's return. Despite his dramatic "death" in Return of the Jedi, Palpatine's revival through cloning in the latest installment stirred significant controversy among the Star Wars community. But what does Ian McDiarmid, the actor who has portrayed Palpatine for over four decades, think about this backlash?
In a recent interview with Variety, coinciding with the successful re-release of Revenge of the Sith in theaters, McDiarmid addressed the fan reaction with a nonchalant attitude. "Mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable," he stated, defending the character's return. McDiarmid elaborated on the plausibility of Palpatine having a backup plan, saying, "It seemed entirely probable that Palpatine had plan B. Even though he was very, very badly damaged, he would be able to be put it together in some form."
He also enjoyed the creative aspects of his role, particularly the "astral wheelchair" and the new, even more grotesque makeup. "When I realized I had a sort of astral wheelchair, that was even better. I just had these four guys who whisked me around the studio; I can’t tell you how much fun that was. Daisy was more worried about that than anything else. And then, of course, we had to devise another makeup look, which was even more grotesque than the previous one."
Regarding the specific backlash to Palpatine's return, McDiarmid remarked, "Well, there’s always something, isn’t there? I don’t read that stuff and I’m not online. So it’ll only reach me if someone mentions it. I thought there might be a bit of a fuss about bringing him back. But as I said, mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable. This man who was horribly maimed thought maybe one day it might happen to him, and we’ve got to have a plan B. I loved the whole idea that he should come back and be even more powerful than he was before. Though this time, he had to be utterly destroyed. So I think he’s dead."
The Rise of Skywalker offers a vague explanation of Palpatine's return, showing him as a reanimated version of himself when Kylo Ren encounters him. McDiarmid's explanation aligns with the film's narrative, suggesting that Palpatine had a contingency plan in place. In the movie, Palpatine himself hints at the dark arts of the Sith, quoting his famous line from Revenge of the Sith: "The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities that some would consider to be... unnatural."
Despite this explanation, many fans remain skeptical and would prefer to ignore Palpatine's return. It remains to be seen how future Star Wars projects will handle this controversial plot point. Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey Skywalker, is set to appear in "several" upcoming films, with one confirmed project being a sequel directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. This film will explore Rey's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker.
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